Rice House
Why it's listed
Perched on Lock Hill, a man-made island above the James River falls in Richmond, this 6,000-square-foot house was designed by Richard Neutra with Thaddeus Longstreth for Walter and Inger Rice and completed in 1965. Its low, cantilevered roofs and terraces alternate with broad bands of glass, and white Georgia marble walls and chimneys run from outside to inside. Boulders and reflecting pools tie the building to the rocky site, and a narrow bridge built for the Rices links the island to the city. The house is the city's only International Style residence and one of few Neutra works on the East Coast. It is also tied to Walter Rice, a lawyer, Reynolds Metals executive and ambassador to Australia from 1969 to 1973. Because it was less than fifty years old at the time, its listing rested on exceptional architectural significance. The Rices donated the property to the Science Museum of Virginia Foundation in 1996.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is Richmond's only International Style residence and one of few Neutra works on the East Coast, meeting Criterion C as the work of a master. It meets Criterion B through its association with Ambassador Walter L. Rice, a diplomat and business executive. It also qualifies under Criteria Consideration G despite being less than fifty years old, because of its exceptional architectural significance.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99000369, listed March 30, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1000 Old Locke Lane, Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | March 30, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000369 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1962-1995 |
| Architect / builder | Richard Neutra, Architect, with Thaddeus Longstreth, Architect (1962-1965). Kayhoe Construction Corp., Builder (1963-65) |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: International Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History, Commerce |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the owners donated the property in 1996 to the Science Museum of Virginia Foundation. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.55580, -77.51731 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99000369.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7323011
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.